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The BMW i8 – New Take on The Ultimate Driving MachineTM powertrain, lightweight design and driving experience.

Wed Aug 07 00:01:00 CEST 2013 Press Release

Woodcliff Lake, NJ – August 6, 2013… At a driving event at the BMW Group’s Miramas test track in France, the BMW i presented a prototype of its second production vehicle, the BMW i8. BMW i is synonymous with visionary mobility concepts and a new definition of premium quality that is strongly focused on sustainability. Following the world debut of the first production model, the BMW i3, the BMW Group’s next step will be to extend this revolutionary answer to the future challenges facing personal mobility to the sports car segment in the BMW i8. This plug-in hybrid model is the most progressive sports car of our time, extending the basic BMW i philosophy of sustainability to a new vehicle segment.

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Woodcliff Lake, NJ – August 6, 2013… At a driving
event at the BMW Group’s Miramas test track in France, the BMW i
presented a prototype of its second production vehicle, the BMW i8.
BMW i is synonymous with visionary mobility concepts and a new
definition of premium quality that is strongly focused on
sustainability. Following the world debut of the first production
model, the BMW i3, the BMW Group’s next step will be to extend this
revolutionary answer to the future challenges facing personal mobility
to the sports car segment in the BMW i8. This plug-in hybrid model is
the most progressive sports car of our time, extending the basic BMW i
philosophy of sustainability to a new vehicle segment.

The BMW i8 fulfills the promise of The Ultimate Driving MachineTM in
a revolutionary and mold-breaking form. This is reflected in a highly
emotive design, dynamic sports car performance, and fuel efficiency
and emissions figures worthy of a small car. Pairing an exceptionally
lightweight, aerodynamically optimized body with cutting-edge BMW
eDrive technology, a compact, turbocharged 1.5-liter BMW TwinPower
Turbo gasoline engine and intelligent energy management, the BMW i8
marks the next stage in the evolution of the Efficient Dynamics
strategy. Its revolutionary approach achieves an unprecedented balance
between performance and fuel efficiency. Thanks to its
carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) passenger cell, the BMW i8 sets
new standards for a plug-in hybrid vehicle in terms of low weight. It
can operate solely on electric power, which means no tailpipe
emissions, and offers the dynamic performance of a sports car, with an
expected 0 – 60 mph sprint time under 4.5 seconds.

The BMW i8 was designed from the outset as a plug-in hybrid sports
car, with the emphasis on agile performance and outstanding
efficiency. Its characteristic BMW i LifeDrive architecture provides
the best possible basis for lightweight design. Its main components
are the aluminum Drive module, which incorporates the internal
combustion engine and electric motor, the battery, the power
electronics and the chassis components, along with structural and
crash functions, and the Life module, which essentially comprises the
2+2-seater CFRP passenger cell. This architecture also gives the BMW
i8 a very low center of gravity and a near-perfect 50:50 axle load
ratio, both of which increase its agility.

The BMW i8’s plug-in hybrid system is specific to this model.
Developed and produced by the BMW Group, it marks the next step in the
evolution of the Efficient Dynamics programme. A compact
three-cylinder petrol engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology is
combined with an electric drive system and a lithium-ion battery which
can be recharged at a standard household power socket. The 231 hp (170
kW) gasoline engine sends its power to the rear wheels, while the 131
hp (96 kW) electric motor powers the front wheels. This configuration
offers all-electric driving capability with a range of up to approx.
22 miles (35 kilometers) and a top speed of approximately 75 mph (120
km/h). With both drive systems engaged, it also offers road-hugging
all-wheel-drive performance with powerful acceleration and dynamic
torque vectoring during sporty cornering. The more powerful of the two
powerplants drives the rear wheels. The hybrid system supplements this
with power from the electric motor to deliver typical BMW driving
pleasure combined with groundbreaking efficiency. Calculated using the
EU test cycle for plug-in hybrid vehicles, the average fuel efficiency
of the BMW i8 at model launch will be less than 2.5 liters/100 km,
which equates to approximately 95 miles per US gallon, with CO2
emissions of less than 59 grams per kilometer.

Optimal balance between performance and fuel economy: BMW i8
as an exciting evolution of the Efficient Dynamics strategy.

It is now more than a decade since the BMW Group launched its
Efficient Dynamics vehicle development strategy, whose aim is to
significantly improve both the performance and the efficiency of new
BMW Group models. Efficient Dynamics combines evolutionary advances in
existing technologies with the development of new and revolutionary
drive concepts. Efficient Dynamics solutions include efficient
lightweight design and aerodynamic concepts, high-performance drive
systems based on TwinPower Turbo technology and BMW eDrive, and
intelligent management of all energy flows within the vehicle. The
new, revolutionary technology now being introduced on models from BMW
i will subsequently find its way into the vehicles of the BMW Group’s
core brands.

BMW i is also setting benchmarks in the quest for zero CO2 emissions
in urban driving. The research and development work carried out since
2007 as part of project i has laid the foundations for revolutionary
mobility solutions strongly influenced by environmental, economic and
social change around the world. The BMW Group is pursuing an
integrated approach, as embodied in the BMW i brand, which aims to
achieve the necessary balance between individual needs and the global
mobility requirements of the future. The BMW i focus is squarely on
all-electric and plug-in hybrid mobility. Groundbreaking design,
intelligent lightweight engineering, typical BMW driving pleasure
coupled with zero tailpipe emissions, intelligent energy management
and resource- and energy-saving production processes are all combined
into an innovative premium-quality package.

LifeDrive architecture with an aluminum chassis for the powertrain
and a CFRP passenger cell: for more excitement, lower weight and
optimized drag. The LifeDrive architecture specially developed
for BMW i vehicles offers the ideal platform for turning the tide of
spiraling weight while at the same time achieving distinctive styling
exclusive to BMW i. With a length of 184.6 inches (4,689 mm), a width
of 76.5 inches (1,942 mm) and a height of 50.9 inches (1,293 mm), the
BMW i8 has the proportions of a sports car. Its dynamic personality is
also stressed by a long bonnet, conspicuous aerodynamic features, an
elongated roofline, short overhangs and a long wheelbase of 110.2
inches (2,800 mm). Characteristic BMW i form language wraps up this
groundbreaking combination of sporty performance and efficiency in a
charismatic 2+2-seater design.

The BMW i8 combines a drag coefficient (Cd value) of 0.26 with
outstanding aerodynamic balance. The finely honed air flow around all
parts of the vehicle body makes for an excellent lift/drag ratio,
resulting in superb driving dynamics and stability.

Intelligent lightweight design – from the overall concept down to the
smallest detail. With its combination of the aluminum Drive
module and the CFRP passenger cell (Life module), the BMW i8 is also
an excellent example of intelligent lightweight design – one of the
guiding principles of the Efficient Dynamics strategy. Use of the
lightweight high-tech material CFRP, which also offers excellent crash
performance, brings weight savings of 50 percent over steel and around
30 percent over aluminum, with equivalent or improved strength. These
savings offset the additional weight of the electric motor and the
high-voltage battery, giving the BMW i8 a curb weight of less than
3,285 lbs (1,490 kilograms). The LifeDrive architecture also brings
benefits in terms of weight distribution. The battery pack is situated
low down in the middle of the vehicle, resulting in a low and central
center of gravity, which improves safety. No other current model of a
BMW Group brand has such a low center of gravity.

The front-rear axle load distribution maximizes agility with a
near-perfect 50:50 axle load ratio. The compact electric motor,
together with the transmission and power electronics, are situated in
close proximity to the electrically powered front axle. The
turbocharged gasoline engine, which is located together with its
transmission in the rear of the BMW i8, likewise sends its power to
the road via the shortest possible route, i.e. through the rear
wheels. As a finishing touch to this excellent weight distribution,
the lithium-ion battery pack is centrally located in the vehicle,
slightly forward of the mid-point. In terms of crash safety, this is
an ideal location for the battery, which is integrated in an aluminum housing.

The doors comprise a CFRP inner structure and an aluminum outer skin.
This reduces the weight of the door by 50 percent compared with a
conventional design. The high-quality, naturally tanned leather of the
seats highlights the “next premium”, sustainable philosophy of BMW i.
The magnesium instrument panel support saves weight on two fronts –
firstly through intelligent design, leading to around 30 percent
weight savings compared, for example, with the BMW 6 Series. In
addition, the high structural rigidity provides a strengthening effect
which allows the number of components to be reduced, thereby lowering
weight by a further 10 percent. Innovative foam plastic technology
used in the air conditioning ducts brings 60 percent weight savings
over conventional components, while also improving acoustics thanks to
its sound-absorbing properties.

The fact that the power electronics and electric motor are directly
connected reduces the amount of wiring required, while partial use of
aluminum wiring brings further weight reductions. Lightweight design
is also a feature of the BMW i8’s chassis systems – including the
wheels, where the standard-fitted 20-inch forged aluminum wheels
combine aerodynamic design with weight savings. The rigorous
application of the lightweight design strategy even extends to
aluminum screws and bolts, which are around 45 percent lighter than
corresponding steel components, with the same strength and functionality.

The BMW i8 is also the world’s first volume-produced vehicle to be
equipped with chemically hardened glass. This innovative technology,
to date used mainly in Smartphone manufacturing, results in very high
strength. The partition between the passenger compartment and boot of
the BMW i8 consists of two layers of chemically hardened glass, each
of which is just 0.7 millimeters thick, with acoustic sheeting
sandwiched between. In addition to excellent acoustic properties, a
further advantage of this solution is weight savings of around 50
percent compared with conventional laminated glass.

For maximum driving pleasure and efficiency: BMW TwinPower Turbo
engine and electric motor developed by the BMW Group. The
plug-in hybrid system of the BMW i8, which comprises a BMW TwinPower
Turbo engine combined with BMW eDrive technology, offers the best of
both worlds: excellent potential for improved efficiency and exciting,
sporty driving characteristics. The BMW Group has developed not only
the internal combustion engine and electric motor in-house but also
the power electronics and the battery. This ensures that all these
components offer high product and quality standards, based on the
outstanding capabilities of the BMW Group in the field of powertrain
research and development.

The revolutionary character of the BMW i8 is emphasized by a further
innovation: the use of a new internal combustion engine which is
making its debut in this model. The BMW i8 is the first BMW production
model to be powered by a three-cylinder gasoline engine. This highly
turbocharged unit is equipped with latest-generation BMW TwinPower
Turbo technology. It is exceptionally compact and develops maximum
power of 231 hp (170 kW). The resulting specific output of 154 hp (113
kW) per liter of displacement is on a par with high-performance sports
car engines and is the highest of any engine produced by the BMW Group.

The new three-cylinder engine derives its typical characteristics
from the BMW inline six-cylinder engines, to which it is closely
related and which are noted for their eager power delivery, revving
ability and refinement. The three-cylinder’s BMW TwinPower Turbo
technology comprises a high-performance turbocharging system and
direct gasoline injection with high-precision injectors positioned
between the valves, along with VALVETRONIC throttle-less load control,
which improves efficiency and response thanks to seamlessly variable
valve lift control. Like a six-cylinder engine, the three-cylinder
unit is free of first and second order inertial forces. The low roll
torque, a typical feature of a three-cylinder design, is further
reduced by a balancer shaft, while a multi-stage damper integrated in
the automatic transmission ensures very smooth and refined running at
low rpm. BMW TwinPower Turbo technology and low internal friction
improve both fuel consumption and torque characteristics. Accelerator
response is sharp and the three-cylinder unit quickly reaches its
maximum torque of 236 lb-ft (320 Nm).

The BMW i8’s second power source is a hybrid synchronous electric
motor specially developed and produced by the BMW Group for BMW i. The
electric motor develops maximum power of 131 hp (96 kW) and produces
its maximum torque of around 184 lb-ft (250 Nm) from standstill.
Typical of an electric motor, responsive power is instantly available
when starting and this continues into the higher load ranges. The
linear power delivery, which extends right up to the high end of the
rpm range, is down to a special motor design principle exclusive to
BMW i. BMW eDrive technology refines and improves on the principle of
the permanently excited synchronous motor via a special arrangement
and size of the torque-producing components. This results in a
self-magnetising effect normally confined to reluctance motors. This
additional excitation ensures that the electromechanical field
generated when current is applied remains stable even at high rpm.

As well as providing a power boost to assist the gasoline engine
during acceleration, the electric motor can also power the vehicle by
itself. Top speed is approximately 75 mph (120 km/h). The BMW i8 has a
maximum driving range in this emission-free, virtually soundless,
all-electric mode of up to 22 miles (35 kilometers). The motor derives
its energy from the lithium-ion battery which is centrally mounted
underneath the floor of the vehicle. The model-specific version of the
high-voltage battery was developed and produced by the BMW Group. It
has a refrigerant gas (R134a) based cooling system and can be
recharged at a conventional household power socket, at a BMW i Wallbox
or at a public charging station. In the US a full recharge takes
approximately 3½ hours from a conventional 120 volt, 12 amp household
circuit or approximately 1½ hours from a 220 volt Level 2 charger.

The BMW i8’s vehicle concept and powertrain control system mark it
out as a progressive, revolutionary sports car. The BMW i8 always
achieves the optimal balance between performance and efficiency,
whatever the driving situation. When power demands allow, the
high-voltage battery is recharged by the electric motor. The
high-voltage starter-generator, responsible for starting the engine,
can also be used as a generator to charge the battery, the necessary
power being provided by the BMW TwinPower Turbo engine. The battery
can also be recharged via the electric motor during overrun. These
various processes help to prevent depletion of the BMW i8’s battery in
order to maintain the electric drive power. The all-electric driving
range is sufficient to cover most urban driving requirements. Out of
town, the BMW i8 offers impressively sporty performance which is also
very efficient thanks to the power-boosting support for the gasoline
engine from the electric motor. With such versatility, the BMW i8
belongs to a new generation of sports cars which unites exciting
performance with cutting-edge efficiency – to enhance both driving
pleasure and sustainability.

Driving Experience Control and eDrive button: a
choice of efficiency and performance characteristics – at the
touch of a button. The rear wheels of the BMW
i8 are driven by the gasoline engine via a six-speed automatic
transmission. The front wheels are driven by the electric motor via an
integrated two-stage automatic transmission. Combined maximum power
and torque of 362 hp (266 kW) and 420 lb-ft (570 Nm) meters
respectively provide all-wheel-drive performance which is as dynamic
as it is efficient. The BMW i8’s intelligent powertrain control system
ensures perfect coordination of both power sources. The variable
power-sharing between the internal combustion engine and the electric
motor makes the driver aware of the sporty temperament of the BMW i8
at all times, while at the same time maximizing the energy efficiency
of the overall system. Utilizing both power sources, the 0 – 60 mph
acceleration time is expected to be less than 4.5 seconds. Linear
acceleration is maintained even at higher speeds since the interplay
between the two power sources efficiently absorbs any power flow
interruptions when shifting gears. The BMW i8 has an electronically
controlled top speed of 155 mph (250 km/h), which can be reached and
maintained when the vehicle operates solely on the gasoline engine.
Variable front-rear power splitting in line with changing driving
conditions makes for excitingly dynamic cornering. On entering the
corner, the power split is biased towards the rear wheels to improve
turning precision. For more vigorous acceleration out of the corner,
the powertrain controller returns to the default split as soon as the
steering angle becomes smaller again. The BMW i8 also offers the
driver unusual scope to adjust the drive and suspension settings of
the vehicle in order to adapt the driving experience to his or her
individual preferences. As well as the electronic gear selector for
the automatic transmission, the driver can also use the Driving
Experience Control switch – a familiar feature of the latest BMW
models – or, exclusively to the BMW i8, the eDrive button.

Using the gear selector, the driver can either select position D for
automated gear selection or can switch to SPORT mode. SPORT mode
offers manual gear selection and at the same time switches to very
sporty drive and suspension settings. In SPORT mode, the engine and
electric motor deliver extra-sharp performance, accelerator response
is faster and the power boost from the electric motor is maximized.
And to keep the battery topped up, SPORT mode also activates maximum
energy recuperation during overrun and braking: for this, the electric
motor’s generator function, which recharges the battery using kinetic
energy, switches to a more powerful setting. At the same time, gear
change times are shortened and an extra-sporty setting is selected for
the standard-fitted Dynamic Damper Control. Also in this mode, the
programmable instrument cluster supplies further driving-related
information in addition to the rev counter display.

The Driving Experience Control switch on the center console offers a
choice of two settings. On starting, COMFORT mode is activated, which
offers a balance between sporty performance and fuel efficiency, with
unrestricted access to all convenience functions. Alternatively, at
the touch of a button, ECO PRO mode can be engaged, which, on the BMW
i8 as on other models, supports an efficiency-optimised driving style.
The powertrain controller coordinates the cooperation between the
gasoline engine and the electric motor for maximum fuel economy. On
deceleration, the intelligent energy management system automatically
decides, in line with the driving situation and vehicle status,
whether to recuperate braking energy or to coast with the powertrain
disengaged. At the same time, ECO PRO mode also programs electrical
convenience functions such as the air conditioning, seat heating and
heated mirrors to operate at minimum power consumption – but without
compromising safety. The maximum driving range of the BMW i8 on a full
fuel tank and with a fully charged battery is over 310 miles (500 km)
in COMFORT mode. In ECO PRO mode, this can be increased by up to 20
percent. The BMW i8’s ECO PRO mode can also be used during
all-electric operation. The vehicle is then powered solely by the
electric motor. Only if the battery charge drops below a given level,
or under sudden intense throttle application such as kickdown, is the
internal combustion engine automatically activated. The driving mode
selected at a given moment is indicated to the driver on the
programmable instrument cluster by a distinctive color and by a
different, mode-specific set of driving information. The
three-dimensional appearance of the display adds to the futuristic
look and feel of the vehicle as a whole.

High-quality chassis technology, DSC and Dynamic Damper Control as
standard. The high-end chassis and suspension technology of the
BMW i8 is based on a double-track control arm front axle and a
five-link rear axle, whose aluminum components and geometry are
specially configured for intelligent weight savings. The
electromechanical power steering offers easy manoeuvring in town and
typical sports car-style high-speed steering precision. Also standard
is Dynamic Damper Control: the electronically operated dampers change
their characteristics according to the selected driving mode to
deliver the desired vehicle dynamics. The DSC (Dynamic Stability
Control) stability system includes the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS),
Cornering Brake Control (CBC), Dynamic Brake Control (DBC), Brake
Assist, Brake Standby, Start-Off Assistant, Fading Compensation and
the Brake Drying function. The push button-activated Dynamic Traction
Control (DTC) system raises the DSC thresholds, allowing some
controlled drive wheel slippage for easier start-off on snow or loose
ground, or for extra-dynamic cornering.

The extraordinary BMW i8 will make its world debut at the Frankfurt
Motor Show and arrive in BMW showrooms in 2014.

BMW of North America, LLC has been present in the United States since
1975. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in
2003. The BMW Group in the United States has grown to include
marketing, sales, and financial service organizations for the BMW
brand of motor vehicles, including motorcycles, the MINI brand, and
the Rolls-Royce brand of Motor Cars; DesignworksUSA, a strategic
design consultancy in California; a technology office in Silicon
Valley and various other operations throughout the country. BMW
Manufacturing Co., LLC in South Carolina is part of BMW Group’s global
manufacturing network and is the exclusive manufacturing plant for all
X5 and X3 Sports Activity Vehicles and X6 Sports Activity Coupes. The
BMW Group sales organization is represented in the U.S. through
networks of 338 BMW passenger car and BMW Sports Activity Vehicle
centers, 139 BMW motorcycle retailers, 119 MINI passenger car dealers,
and 34 Rolls-Royce Motor Car dealers. BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW
Group’s sales headquarters for North America, is located in Woodcliff
Lake, New Jersey.

Information about BMW Group products is available to consumers via
the Internet at: www.bmwgroupna.com

CO2 emission information.

Fuel consumption figures based on the EU test cycle, may vary depending on the tyre format specified. Further information on official fuel consumption figures, specific CO2 emission values and the electric power consumption of new passenger cars is included in the “Guideline for fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and electric power consumption of new passenger cars", which can be obtained from dealerships and here as PDF.

Further News for: Alternative Drive Systems, Mobility of the Future · BMW i

Related Video Content.

Fuel consumption figures based on the EU test cycle, may vary depending on the tyre format specified. Further information on official fuel consumption figures, specific CO2 emission values and the electric power consumption of new passenger cars is included in the “Guideline for fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and electric power consumption of new passenger cars", which can be obtained from dealerships and here as PDF.